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Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Jacqueline Wells, Andy Devine ... see more see more... , Lucille Lund , Egon Brecher , John Carradine , Harry Cording , Luis Alberni , Henry Armetta , Herman Bing , Andre Cheron , Albert Conti , Anna Duncan , Rodney Hildebrand , Tony Marlow , Alphonse Martell , Albert Pollet , Paul Weigel , George Davis , Julie Bishop

The first cinematic teaming of horror greats Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi is a bizarre, haunting, and relentlessly eerie film that was surprisingly morbid and perverse for its time. Peter (David Mann... read more read more...ers) and Joan Allison (Julie Bishop) are honeymooning in Budapest when they meet mysterious scientist Dr. Vitus Verdegast (Lugosi) aboard a train. When the trio's bus from the train station gets into an accident, the young couple accompanies Verdegast to the castle of the spectral Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff), an architect and the leader of a Satanic cult. Poelzig's treachery in World War I caused the deaths of thousands of his and Verdegast's countrymen, as well as Verdegast's own internment as a prisoner of war. While Verdegast was detained, Poelzig married first his wife, who later died, then his daughter. Now Verdegast has come back for retribution, and the honeymooners are trapped in the two men's horrifying battle of wits. Corpses preserved in glass cases, frightening Satanic rituals, and a climactic confrontation in which one of the characters is skinned alive add to the film's pervasive sense of evil and doom, along with the stark black-and-white photography by John Mescall that makes Poelzig's futuristic mountaintop mansion even more disturbing. Karloff and Lugosi are both excellent, with Lugosi doing a rare turn as a good guy, albeit one who has gone off the rails. Having little to do with the Edgar Allan Poe story of the same name, The Black Cat has grown in stature over the years and is now widely regarded as the masterpiece of director Edgar G. Ulmer and one of the finest horror films ever made. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

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3,116 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

28 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 5 min.

Directed by: Edgar G. Ulmer

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DVD Release Date: September 10, 1992

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Flixster Reviews (206)

  • bottcorecords1
    May 16, 2012
    bottcorecords1
    "The Black Cat" was the first film to pair the legendary stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and at just 65 minutes in length, it packs quite a bit of oddness into it's short running time. A young couple (David Manners and Julie Bishop) are honeymooning in Hungary (of all place... read mores). Traveling by train, they share a compartment with Dr. Vitus Werdegast (Lugosi), a psychiatrist on his way to visit an old friend. This old friend, Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff) is an architect who has built a futuristic mansion on top of an old battlefield/graveyard. Poelzig betrayed Dr. Werdegast during WWI, and Werdegast spent several years in a prison there (he was betrayed possibly so Poelzig could steal his wife away), and now returning, Werdegast swears revenge. Throw some satanism into the works and there you have it. Karloff's Hjalmar Poelzig is quite a unique and sinister character, and Lugosi's doctor, with his bizarre cat phobia (whenever he sees a cat, he must either try to murder it or throw his hands over his eyes in terror) is equally odd. While the credits might acknowledge Edgar Allen Poe's original story, there is little here to resemble it. What we have is a strange and well, unique contribution to the horror genre of the 1930s.
  • ajv2688
    September 8, 2010
    ajv2688
    A very interesting old horror movie with two of the best old horror movie stars. A really cool movie.
  • 366weirdmovies
    August 12, 2010
    366weirdmovies
    A young couple find themselves caught between the machinations of a doctor bent on revenge (Bela Lugosi) and a mad engineer (Boris Karloff) in the latter's Art Deco mansion, built on the graves of the soldiers he sold out in a World War I battle. The story's a little ragged (wit... read moreh a black cat popping up at random moments to terrify Lugosi), but Edward G. Ulmer's direction, the geometric sets, and the atmosphere of elegant perversity inexorably draw you in to the Expressionist nightmare.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    August 3, 2009
    cancercapricorn2002
    A couple Peter and Joan Allison are joined by Dr. Vitus Verdegast (Bela Lugosi) who are on their way to a hotel, but suddenly their bus crashes during a storm. Dr Verdegast suggests they seek refuge in Hjalmar Poelzig's (Boris Karloff) house, who is an old acquaintance of his and... read more he's secretly seeking revenge against him for the death of his wife and betraying his country by slaughtering his entire army when it was sacrificed to Satan during WW1. Dr Verdegast discovers that Poelzig has the same idea for Joan, which saw him kill his wife. So to help them escape Dr. Verdegast challenges Poelzig to a game of chess and if he wins they are free and if he doesn't their doom.

    Incredibly complex and odd assortments of novelties ranging from Sadism, Superstition to Satan worship fill this stylish yet confusing film. I wasn't particularly gob smacked or incredibly impressed by the film after reading a lot good things about it, but it's the performances and the look of the film that kept me glued and amazed. The plot had an engrossing set up, but the story just didn't compliment it, as it could have been far more interesting than it was. It jumps here to there without real cohesion and becomes rather thin in detail, but there are some surprising revelations along the way. The dialogue on the other hand was rather fine, if too much of it. There was a lot of conversations than actual action or lively scenes. The distinction between Dr Verdegast and Poelzig is pretty even in power and determination to rid each other. With them tossing back and forth sharp and intense dialogue to get the upper hand. All of this mayhem between them leads to a greatly energetic tussle between the two stars.

    The set-up is a slow-grinder to begin with, though there are interesting ideas that pop up throughout the film. The reasonably slow dramatic 45-minutes suddenly picks up the pace and energy levels for the last thrilling and involving 15-minutes, which alone is good reason to watch it. This is when Satanists and sacrificial ceremonies fill the story. There is a brilliant climax involving a skinning that is implied to great effect and a big explosion to end it all. The ironic ending was fairly convincing and enjoyable in tying up the film.

    It's definitely Lugosi's best performance that I've seen( I wasn't a fan of his version of "Dracula") It was a good change to see him playing a good guy and a much more controlled and subtle character than his eccentric roles. Boris Karloff comes across rather menacing and quite callous in appearance. His body language is impressively noticeable and imposing in creating terror. From his dead looking facials and soft spoken voice really added to the unease. Julie Bishop and David Manners as the couple were fine in their performances.

    This is impressively atmospheric and holds such a great awe to it all. The modernistic cold domain of Poelzig's castle truly stands out, with the spiral staircase, sliding doors, the dark dungeon and curvy interior. There is such great composition with lighting and solid camera-work captures the elegance and style of the scenery beautifully. The soaring score takes hold and sometimes it got rather distracting for me. As I kept trying to figure out where I heard the score from before.

    Overall, "The Black Cat" is a very good mood piece and holds such great performances, it's a weird and wonderful film that is highly entertaining.
  • rubystevens
    October 31, 2008
    rubystevens
    it's fun to see karloff and lugosi working together. there is a black cat; other than that there's no resemblance to poe's short story. karloff plays an architect and leader of a gang of satanists with lugosi as a man from his past back to settle an old score, a psychiatrist wh... read moreo has a terrible fear of cats. interesting set design
  • pier007
    May 8, 2008
    pier007
    Boris Karloff plays the leader of a bunch of satanists, and is willing to sacrifice a married couple, who are unexpectedly protected by none other than Bela Lugosi. Duel of titans that has few or nothing to do with Edgar Allan Poe's short story, but is directed with attractive ex... read morepressionism by Edgar G. Ulmer, an underrated king of B movies
  • drblood
    August 19, 2007
    drblood
    Utter rubbish with nothing at all to do with the Edgar Allan Poe story of the same name even if it is mentioned in the opening credits.
    The bizarre plot becomes more and more muddled as the film progresses with gaping holes everywhere. Mercifully, it is all soon over.
    The only go... read moreod bit is the set design. The acting is atrocious and there are no scares here for horror fans.
  • mjgildea
    November 9, 2006
    mjgildea
    Probably best enjoyed if you make a drinking game out of it.
  • staindslaved
    December 20, 2011
    staindslaved
    The first on screen pairing of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi and arguably their best. The Rocky Horror Picture Show got their plot idea from The Black Cat where two honeymooners get into an accident and need to spend the night at a creepy house with demented satanics. The film ... read morehas become a landmark film in the horror genre
  • fb100000496792525
    March 23, 2011
    fb100000496792525
    Messy script and typically silly finalle. But Karloff's presence is marvellous, terrifying and convincing.

View All The Black Cat Reviews

Critic Reviews

October 19, 2008
TIME Magazine

A dismal hocus-pocus which seems to confuse its actors as much as it fails to frighten its audience. Full Review

Variety Staff
September 26, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Story is confused and confusing, and while with the aid of heavily-shadowed lighting and mausoleum-like architecture, a certain eeriness has been achieved, it's all a poor imitation of things seen bef... Full Review

Dave Kehr
September 26, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Ulmer never again had the budgetary resources granted him by Universal (at the time, Karloff and Lugosi were two of the studio's biggest stars), and he makes the most of them. Full Review

August 8, 2006
New York Times

More foolish than horrible. The story and dialogue pile the agony on too thick to give the audience a reasonable scare. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
July 3, 2010
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Edgar G. Ulmer's grandest danse macabre, a magnificently sustained trance Full Review

October 19, 2008
Film4

A magnificently eerie entry from the early days of Hollywood horror. Full Review

Steve Biodrowski
October 15, 2008
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter

No monsters but lots of atmosphere, this is a classic of the genre. Full Review

Cole Smithey
October 13, 2007
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Karloff--Lugosi--Karloff--Lugosi...

Jeremy Heilman
August 4, 2007
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com

One of the best in Universal's storied horror cycle. Full Review

February 9, 2006
Time Out

Sumptuously subversive... one of the very best horror movies Universal ever made. Full Review

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